The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 680

Brandon's voice was deep and slow, as he confessed to her that the events of the past were never part of his plan. But Amanda's call had stirred a bit of unease in him.

He wasn't worried that she would leave, but he was concerned that her affections leaned towards Amanda and Harvey.

Despite the Ferber family's life-saving help and their treating her like family over the past few months, he couldn't shake the doubt that he and Theresa might not hold the same place in her heart as Amanda and Harvey.

So, he didn't hesitate to let Sophia know just how much Theresa had missed her, and how much she needed her.

Unsurprisingly, he watched Sophia's eyes turn red, tears threatening to spill over, her throat bobbing as she struggled to keep her emotions in check.

Sophia couldn't help but look at Theresa, who still gazed back at her with confusion and innocence, not quite understanding what the grown-ups were discussing, only noticing her tears and feeling a bit lost.

Sophia's throat tightened painfully, words failing her as she bent down and enveloped Theresa in a tight embrace.

Theresa's eyes widened further, pulling her neck back slightly to escape Sophia's hold, casting a questioning glance at Brandon.

Brandon gave her a gentle smile, reaching out to pat her head. "Mommy's okay," he reassured her softly.

Sophia, choking back her emotions, echoed the sentiment with a tender touch on Theresa's head, her voice husky: "Yes, mommy's okay. Mommy just wants to give Theresa a hug."

Hearing that her mommy wanted to hug her, Theresa immediately sat up, spreading her small, pale arms wide to hug Sophia back, mumbling softly, "Mommy hug."

Sophia tightened her embrace.

Theresa settled compliantly in Sophia's arms.

Brandon watched the two, their faces so alike, with quiet, deep eyes, not wanting to disturb the moment.

After holding Theresa for a long while, Sophia finally released her, mindful that it was time for her to sleep.

She coaxed Theresa to lie down, tucking her in with her little blanket.

to the middle of the bed,

too."

instinctively reached for the bedtime storybook on the nightstand, handing it to

"Alright."

aching with tenderness. She had already forgotten her earlier discomfort about Theresa's arrangement of their sleeping positions, pulling up the

Sophia's arms, clutching her

blanket

watching her and mommy, and quickly

softly, nodding:

lifted the covers and got into

of the mattress

covers, instinctively lying straighter, afraid

of the bed once Brandon lay down, satisfied that mommy and daddy were lying close together. She lay

rigid, not daring to

hand, beginning to read, though unable to fully immerse

but his presence was palpable beside her beneath the shared

him, but she felt as if she were being watched, that tense feeling

was wide-eyed and attentive, seeming more awake than ever, probably because it had been so long since she'd slept with her mommy or heard

Theresa stayed awake, Sophia couldn't bring herself to get up or change her position much. Lying on her side, flipping through the book soon left her back acking, and she hesitated to adjust, fearing she

•

was

spoke softly,

tired?"

s

hand gently pressed against her stiff back,

massaging her

relief was immediate as

adjust her position, murmuring somewhat unconvincingly,